Betting Public Divided on AFC & NFC Conference Championships

The AFC and NFC conference championships kick off today and it will finally be decided which two teams will be going to Houston for Super Bowl LI in two weeks. All four teams have received significant wagering support at online sportsbooks in outright markets as well as the Super Bowl MVP prop market.

Packers vs. Falcons Spread Betting
55% of wagers are on Green Bay to cover the spread of +6. The spread opened at 4.5 in favor of the Falcons, who enjoy home-field advantage, which is typically worth 3 points in the NFL.

Packers vs. Falcons Outright Winner
A majority of bets (65%) are on Green Bay to win outright, though the money line has gone opposite to this with Atlanta becoming more expensive to lay. BetOnline's Dave Mason touched on this in a recent quote to Sportsbook Review, saying the following: "Even though the public is on the Packers, the Falcons are up to -5 thanks to sharp Atl money. Our biggest sweat of the weekend will be that money line too. About 85% of the bettors are taking the Packers at plus money."

Packers vs. Falcons Total Points
As SBR noted, bookmakers have set the largest total points market in NFL playoffs history at 60.5 points. Two NFL regular season games have ever touched 60 points: The Showtime Rams vs. the 49ers in 2000 [which went under barely at 58 points], and the Oakland Raiders vs. the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2004 [61 points scored].

Packers vs. Falcons 1st Half Spread
Sportsbooks opened the first half spread in favor of Atlanta at -3 -115. The Falcons are currently trading at -3.5 at most sportsbooks and have received about half of all bets.

Steelers vs. Patriots Spread Betting
Bookmakers opened the Patriots at -5.5 and the line has shot up a half point to -6. A slight majority of players (52%) are backing Tom Brady and company to make it back to the big game for the seventh time.

Steelers vs. Patriots Outright Winner
61% of bettors are rolling the dice on Big Ben and the Steelers to win outright at odds around +220, so a $1,000 bet would return $2,200 in profit.

Steelers vs. Patriots Total Points
The total points market opened at 51 — which while considerable for an AFC Championship game is nothing compared to the aforementioned total in the Packers vs. Falcons which is 9.5 points greater — and has settled around 50 points at most sportsbooks.

Steelers vs. Patriots 1st Half Spread
The total points market opened at 51 — which while considerable for an AFC Championship game is nothing compared to the aforementioned total in the Packers vs. Falcons which is 9.5 points greater — and has settled around 50 points at most sportsbooks.